Harriman attended Princeton University, where he was a member of the Ivy Club, and graduated in 1883.

[1] Harriman started his career at Winslow, Lanier & Co., an investment firm in New York City, where he worked from 1883 to 1888.

[1] His wife became a philanthropist, serving as president of the National Conference on Legalizing Lotteries and the Camp Fire Girls.

[2] Her miniature portrait was done by Meave Thompson Gedney c. 1900 for art collector Peter Marié.

[5] Together, Grace and Oliver were the parents of three sons,[5] including: Harriman died on August 14, 1940, in Silver Spring, Maryland.